In this episode, I explore the fascinating phenomenon of aphantasia, the inability to imagine. I discuss the manifestations of the condition which primarily affects visual imagination, but which also affects the ability to imagine sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and even feelings. The podcast also illustrates how aphantasia influences recollection of memories, and how it impacts of education and career.
I illustrate aphantasia with such fascinating memoirs as that of Charlotte Langlais, titled 'Aphantasia Club', and of Alan Kendle titled 'Discover the Fascinating World of Aphantasia'. These show the different ways by which people with aphantasia discover that they have the condition, and the emotions that accompany this knowledge.
Importantly, the podcast also highlights how people with the condition adapt by using alternative strategies, and how they have found such advantages of aphantasia, from the better ability to remember facts and meditate to the lesser risk of reliving painful memories.
The podcast also traces the history of our understanding of aphantasia, starting with Francis Galton who first described, to Adam Zeman who resuscitated its study. This theme also narrated how Zeman came to coin the name aphantasia. Also covered in the podcast is the epidemiology of the condition, its familial and acquired causes, and its associated features, from impaired facial recognition to difficulty recollecting dreams.
